He wanted my number and then found out my sister has Down syndrome

Extraordinary Lives
Extraordinary Lives
Sep 19, 2026

Anya’s mother, Yulia, left her newborn daughter at the hospital at the urging of her doctors. Years later Anya made it out of Ukraine just before the war started and she’s inspiring millions with her sister Val on their social media accounts. But Anya’s biggest impact might be on Val’s husband, Kirk who realized when dating Val that they would one day have to care for Anya. None of this would have happened had Yulia not listened to her instincts that told her to go back to the hospital for Anya. All these years later, Yulia is still in touch with the very doctors that told her to leave Anya. She explains that the doctors have experienced a change of heart since seeing her choose to raise Anya.